THE LEAGUE CODE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21916, 27 September 1934, Page 9

THE LEAGUE CODE

WESTERN SUBURBS TEAM DRAWN GAME WITH NEWTON SOUND TACKLING A FEATURE The Western Suburbs Rugby League team, of Syclney, played the second game of its tour at Carlaw Park yesterday afternoon, when Newton drew with the visitors, each side scoring 10 points. Several showers swept the ground before the game and the greasy ball was difficult to handle. Play was nevertheless interesting throughout, although the match did not reveal much brilliant football. Sound tackling by Newton was a feature of the game, and many promising attacks by the visitors' backs were subdued. Too much, kicking by the Newton backs spoiled many good movements, as it was dangerous to let Western Suburbs have the ball. The weather conditions did not favour the visitors, whose backs were often dangerous. As in the first game against Marist, selfish play on the part of several of the backs of Western Suburbs spoiled good play by the five-eighths. The Newton forwards played dashing football and were definitely superior. Much was expected of Hey, the visitors' five-eighths, but good defence checked most of. his attack. Hey, however, is likely to be dangerous on a dry ground. Both the wings. Ridley and Hines. played splendid footbnll. Sharman, at fullback, played a greatly improved game. Sponberg and Gray were the beet of the forwards.

For Newton Stephens stood out as the best back on the ground. He did some brilliant work on the wing. Dempsey was very sound as fullback. Hall, Hutt and Blacklawf were the best of Newton's forwards. The teams were as follows:—Western Suburbs: Fullback, Sharman; three-quar-ters, Ridley, Tancred, Sheehan, Hines: fiveeighths. V. Hey: halfback, Williams: forwards, Blake, Fairall. McConnell. Gray, Hartwell. Bponberg. Newton.—Fullback. DeWfcsey; threequarters, Stephens, Hickey, Brady: five-eighths, CameroD, Brimble: halfback, Porteous: forwards, Middleton, Quirke, Hutt, Hall. Blacklaws, Johnson. In the early stages Newton obtained several penalties, from one of which Brady goaled, Just previously Hey cross-kicked in his twenty-five and Hines made a good run before being tackled by Dempsey. The visitors lost a great scoring chance when Hey broke through near the Newton line, but threw a bad pass to his supports. Stephens broke away and raced 40 yards with Hutt in support. Ridley, however, checked the movement. Tancred was penalised for offside, but Brady missed the kick. Western Suburbs' backs combined effectively find Hey cut in nicely. He passed to Sponberg, who sent on to Hines, who raced over for a splendid try. Williams failed to convert. Western Suburbs, 3; Newton, 2. The Newton forwards attacked strongly and sorely tried the visitors' defence. Porteous snapped up in the loose and passed to Middleton, Stephens ending a nice movement with a try. Brady failed to convert. Newton, 5; Western Suburbs. 3. Good tackling was a feature of the play and the game was not bright. Hutt and Hall were associated in a good passing bout, which carried play to the visitors' twentyfive. Here Brady kicked a nice penalty goal. Half-time came with the score:— Newton, 7; Western Suburbs, 3. On resuming a heavy shower swept the ground and made conditions unpleasant. The Newton forwards held the opposition, but the visitors' backs were often dangerous. Stephens wss penalised and Ridley picked up quickly and kicked before the home team was prepared, Blake scoring easily. Williams converted. Western Suburbs, 8; Newton. 7. Hines 'made another spectacular run down the line, but Cameron tsckled well. Then from 50 yards out Sharman fielded smartly and potted a beautiful goal. Western Suburbs, 10; Newton, 7. Hey was prominent in a nice, dodgy run. but slipped after beating the defence. Hall pioked up near halfway and passed to Stephens, who cleverly side-stepped several defenders and scored at the corner. Brady failed to convert. Western Suburbs, 10: Newton, 10. . . McConnell obstructed Dempsey, but Brady failed with ;the penalty kick. Newton gained tho upper hand for a time and Blacklaws and Stephens -went close to scoring. Another Newton attack threatened to score, but Hines came fast and made * great save. Bright play by Hey and Sheehan plaoed tho visitors in a good position and they were unlucky not to scon-, lhe game rnded soon afterwards with the BCO re:—Western Suburbs. 10; Newton. 10. Mr. P. Rogers was referee.